Monthly Publication of the Fell’s Point Citizens on Patrol February 2007 The Fell’s Pointer Volume 9 Number 2 Happenings Parents Looking for Public School Have 3 Charter Options– ‘POINTER SINNED IN JANUARY Until March 22 Application Deadline Foremost, we forgot to update the issue, volume and number of the year’s first issue. Those items Families with grade-school children, rare in this ling case that his school is on the rise. Gaither is appeared in January just as they community but multiplying, suddenly have three in his second year of a renovation effort that looks had for December. innovative public charter schools in which they to accelerate with the charter status awarded in The mis-dated issue also erred might enroll their youngsters. The newly con- December. The school’s enrollment zone is from in an item headlined “Residential Parking Permit Pickup Feb. 20.” verted and nearest, General Wolfe Elementary, is Broadway to Patterson Park and from Pratt St. The correct date is Feb. 27. The within an easy walk for most Fell’s Pointers north to Eastern Ave., so residents of lower Fell’s Point correct account: of Eastern Ave. The other two, straddling Pat- are not assured of entry. But they can apply for RESIDENTIAL PARKING terson Park, are a brief drive away for the rest. All openings—in a lottery closing March 22—that are PERMIT PICKUP FEB. 27 three offer diverse amenities. expected once the enrollment zone demand is met. Permits, which must be ordered on line or at the Parking Leading the effort at what now becomes Wolfe ‘Pointers south of Eastern are assured entry in the Authority, 200 W. Lombard St., Street Academy, at Wolfe and Gough Sts., is Hampstead Hill Academy, at Eastern and Lin- can be picked up on Feb. 27 at Principal Mark Hornbeck Gaither, 38, himself a wood St., which has a waterside enrollment area. One-Eyed Mike’s on S. Bond St. near Lancaster and at the product of the City system. He makes a compel- That school has pioneered the charter concept in Authority on or after Feb. 20. Southeast Baltimore. With 500 students from pre- kindergarten though 8th grade, this largest option CRIMEWATCH BLOG NEWS expects a few openings for the out-of-zone lottery This month’s blog activities brought about some actions closing March 22. against illegal flier distributors in the form of fines, feedback from The third option, Patterson Park Public at 27 N. sanitation officials regarding Lakewood St. just north of Patterson Park, is in its inappropriate “no violation found” reports when responding third year and building toward pre-k to 8th. It has to investigate garbage dumping city-wide enrollment beyond the park perimeter. (and accountability actions you Leading up to the March 22 application cutoff can take if it happens to you), and advice from police regarding are information sessions with the board and staff: a responsiveness issue. “Snacks + Facts” on Feb. 20, 6-8 PM at Smedley’s If you have a photo of an Cafe, Fleet and Wolfe Sts.; “Coffee Talk” on Feb. outrageous crime, grime (or 23, 8-10AM at 8 N. Glover St. Among the board related) pic, consider e-mailing members is Claudia Towles, of Amuse toy shop us your shot at sebaltimorecrime [email protected]. We may start on Thames St., where she proselytes for the school a photo gallery. attended by her son. She is a ‘Point resident as is the board chair. CHAP COMING; URP LINGERS Photo by Lew Diuguid The city Planning Commission Principal Mark Gaither takes students’ Under state legislation, charter schools are part is taking up approval low test scores as a test. of major change in two of the city system and are supposed to receive areas of governance after continued on page 2 consultation with ‘Point civic groups: Recognition of the neighborhood’s historic status by the updated Commission on Historical and Architectural Officer Penn Retiring After Dozen Years as Liaison With SE Police HQ Preservation. CHAP status is to enhance federal and state safeguards against arbitrary Burly Officer Melvin Penn, who for 12 years has Penn had the presence of a Ravens tackle, a large demolition of historic properties; worked to bridge sometimes cavernous divides smile and laid-back manner. Recently he has And, rezoning to smooth out between Fell’s Pointers and the Police Department, trimmed down after some medical trouble. With- anomalies that have arisen under the Urban Renewal Plan for the is retiring from the force. Although only 48, Penn out excusing shortfalls by the police, he said he area. While one objective of the has put in 29 years in the Southeast Police district came to perceive his job here essentially as helping changeover was to eliminate and the stint as neighborhoods liaison has cost residents with their problems: “It takes a lot for the ‘80s era URP, sentiment among civic leaders has shifted him long hours. He said he wants to spend more people to realize that often it’s not really the police toward simplifying it but keeping time with his 8- and 13-year-old children. The that are the problem but themselves.” What’s much of it intact to assure such retirement date is not fixed but he said it would be needed is for people to get to know each other benefits as height limitation. in March. “and to know what’s happening.” On that count ‘POINT’S TREE CANOPY he lauded The Fell’s Pointer, which has become Penn was present virtually at the start of the Fell’s More than 80 enthusiasts turned the sole activity of FPCOP as residents have shied out for a TreeBaltimore pep rally Point Citizens on Patrol a decade ago, teaching away from security patrols. at the Du Burns Recreation Center volunteers to notice the signs of crime as they in Canton to hear city officials made their rounds in lieu of long-lost police foot make a case for doubling the city’s tree canopy, currently measured patrols. Soon Penn knew the neighborhood better at 20 percent. Speakers included than its civic leaders or even the street people and the new Parks and Recreation he would offer advice patiently to all who sought it Director Chris Carroll and Arborist Rebecca Feldberg. They stressed at endless meetings. the need for volunteers to achieve the goal, given that only 35 Nancy Conrad, formerly of Lancaster St. and a workers are now. The Baltimore founder of FPCOP, said: “If every neighborhood Harbor Watershed Association has surveyed Fell’s Point streets to had an Officer Penn, Baltimore would be a far facilitate planting of trees. more secure city.” Although he was under heavy Councilman Jim Kraft started demand by residents angry at perceived failings off the meeting by reading “Only of police response to 911 and lesser calls, Conrad God Can Make a Tree” and following that with Baltimorean noted that Penn would pursue cases to resolution, Ogden Nash’s “I think that I shall or at least explanation. Photo by Colleen Doering never see a billboard lovely as a Melvin Penn trained patrollers, pursued complaints. tree. Indeed, until the billboards fall, I may not see a tree at all.” “Parents Looking for Public School…” continued from page 1 Schedules funding per student equivalent to traditional Asked about the loss of the historic “General” Garbage Bags Are No schools. But they maintain their own direction. from the school’s name, Gaither said it lives on in Longer Allowed The Wolfe Street Academy will be operated by the school’s award-winning 5th grade chess team, TRASH another innovation, the Baltimore Curriculum The Generals. Place trash outside in cans Project, which was developed through funding by after 6AM on Mondays and The Hampstead Hill Academy has a similar Thursdays. Garbage bags are the Abell Foundation. no longer allowed, except in Curriculum Project background and its princi- trash cans! Crews are picking The Academy will use a scientifically based Read- pal, Mathew Hornbeck, is the brother of Mark up bagged leaves on the ing Master Plus program. Gaither explained that Hornbeck Gaither. The Patterson Park charter has second trash day of the week this uses tightly structured lessons able to bring a different approach, described as hands-on and through Jan. 27. students “from learning letter sounds in pre-kin- project-based. Its student body is 279. RECYCLING dergarten to reading Jack London in the fifth Place outside by 7AM on grade.” He called the results “moderately effective,” collection day. Glass, metal and the highest mark awarded to any independently plastic in blue plastic bags on the second and fourth Monday researched reading program. of each month. Paper and cardboard in paper Diversity is the most striking characteristic of bags, cardboard boxes or tied the Wolfe school and test scores have reflected its with string on the second and difficulties in accommodating a large influx of fourth Fridays of each month Hispanics. Gaither said that in 1996, 12 percent except holidays. of the then 214 students were reading at standard NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS levels. Last year the student population was cut Douglass Place: Third back to 144. More than 50 parents attended a Wednesday of every other recent event. About 70 percent of the students are month at the Polish National Alliance, 1637 Eastern Avenue, Hispanic, the largest percentage in the city, and (410) 563-1297. English is the second language for half of them. Fell’s Point Antique Dealers’ Another 24 percent are black. Those reading at Association: Call (410) 675-4776. grade level has risen to 57 percent.